International Felt Artists Address Global Warming in Touring Show

The Climate is Changing!

By now, most people have heard stories about global warming. However, a new international juried show provides 50 artists from around the world with a chance to illustrate this challenge for our times. Using the ancient techniques of felt making in new ways, the selected artists contributed both two and three dimensional works as reminders of the disappearance of precious natural resources. Perhaps the reason I connect with this show lies in key themes of my own Network Tapestry™ - sunlight, water and forests.

Loaded with tantalizing photos, the catalog from "The Climate is Changing" marked the opening of a touring show that has just moved from Prato (Tuscany) in Italy to Germany and then on to the UK in March for the balance of 2011. For me, seeing the energy, vibrant colors and political commentary embedded in these felted pieces provides great inspiration. Wanting even more insight, I checked out a short video documentary from the show's first stop at the Museo del Tessuto, which displays one of the richest textile and fabrics collection in Italy.

Italian fiber artist Lydia Predominato writes in the catalog "Felt, breaking free of the barriers of material and technique becomes an artistic expression able to speak for our times".

I look forward to exploring this show in detail and welcome feedback from other felt makers on how our art can be used to stimulate discussion and action on other important themes.

The future is felt!

PJ Bergin Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Mixed Media Fiber Art Shown to ArtWalk Children

From my hands to theirs...

The recent 18th Annual ArtWalk in Salida gave me a chance to work with young children, creating "geodes" made from Kool-Aid dyed wool felt. Dozens of kids came up to me on the sidewalk, during my day-long "Felt-In".

Each had a chance to choose the colors of felt in their layers, then soak them in soapy water.


After that, the wool balls were put into pantyhose (very exotic for kids) and the young artists squeezed and rolled them into nice tight balls.

To finish them off, I carefully sliced open the balls, revealing the "surprise" layers inside - the geode effect


After a long, hot day under brilliant sunshine, everyone went home happy and at least 45 geodes ended up being displayed all over town.

It was a great day for me as well - a chance to provide a service to the arts community, a boost to ArtWalk and a chance to help inspire some budding artists. To me, that's what ArtWalk is all about!


PJ Bergin Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Mixed Media Fiber Artist PJ Bergin Demos Felt Making in Salida during ArtWalk

Join me on Saturday June 26th, 2010 from 9AM-12 Noon and again from 3-6PM at Fringe, 139 F Street in Salida, home of fabulous yarn and fabrics. It's part of the 18th Annual 2010 Salida ArtWalk running all weekend throughout the Downtown Salida Historic District.

Learn about wool, how to turn it into felt balls and experience the joy of hybrid felt. These sessions are designed so you can drop in anytime and see the colorful process of transforming wool into felt for all manner of art projects.

I hope you'll stop in to visit as well as enjoy the many other artist demonstrations and exhibits going on throughout town. Checkout this ArtWalk map listing all the hot spots for art, food and don't forget the River Walk that has just been expanded to the east, past the band shell and new rock climbing wall in Riverside Park. It's fabulous and it's free!


See you soon,
PJ Bergin Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Felt Artist Meets the Challenges of Site Specific Art Installations

Network Tapestry™ is, by design, fabricated with no pattern or even a beginning grid. This is a challenge for any artist. However, if the piece is commissioned for a specific permanent installation site, it becomes even more interesting to figure out how to get from Point A to Point B (and usually on a deadline). I begin by intuitively laying out lengths of the wool roving and then working with the shapes and colors until I get them where I want them to be. This process can take several days. I never really know what it is going to look like until I determine the layout is "finished". Then I start the felting process which is also very labor intensive.

In this medium, there is not a “recipe” where adding so many parts of certain colors of dyed wool can arrive at a predictable end point. In addition, once I start the felting process, I cannot go back to add more fiber or change a color. That is why I take so much time putting together the dry fibers in the beginning.

With the addition of surface design elements (metal wire and paint), I bring even more visual interest to the tapestry to reinforce the desired illusions and produce a work that satisfies both me and the new owner.

It’s a combination of art, science, skill and guidance from the “felting gods”, that make it all come together in the end

PJ Bergin Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Felt Artist PJ Bergin Welcomes Artists in Residence to Felt In Hand Studio

Colorado Art Ranch is back in town again. In partnership with Salida ArtWorks, 7 Artists in Residence are living and working in Salida, CO through the end of May. While here, they will complete site-specific art installations, make presentations to the community and participate in an Artposium, entitled "Wade in the Water", to be held May 21-23 at the Salida SteamPlant.

(Left to right, C. Maxx Stevens, PJ and Hyeon Jung Kim)

I invited the two over for a workshop in making felt. Both describe themselves as sculptural installation artists and are keenly interested in the environment where their work is shown. "Maxx" is an Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Colorado at Boulder. She says she "deals with the whole space, incorporating elements of lighting, sounds and even temperature into her installations." Hyeon, from Bolingbrook, IL focuses on material and process and believes in the value of repetitive actions in her pieces.

After a few hours both artists had some colorful test pieces constructed and through the felting process. Hyeon incorporated some printed paper dry cleaning tags into her piece, while Maxx concentrated on brilliant colors with an eye towards some surface design in the future. Both artists had some prior experience working with felt, but were amazed at the lengths that I have taken the art form to.

It was a great way to welcome some talented artists to our community. I look forward to spending time with our resident artists this month and seeing what they are working on in their group studio. Stay tuned for more!


PJ Bergin Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Mixed Media - What Does It Mean To Me?

When I refer to mixed media, it means that currently I use paint, colored wire and other forms of surface design that are incorporated in the hand-dyed wool that make up my fiber art. I have not added more exotic materials (yet), but in the future, I envision using new forms of media to enhance my pieces. Stay tuned for more clues as they develop!

The Winter 2010 issue of the Surface Design Journal is all about Felt. As a member of the Surface Design Association, I have found a great resource that allows me to explore many ways to augment my felt making and exchange ideas with others about how to make an old art into new traditions. I encourage other felt makers or creators of abstract wall art to consider joining the SDA or contact me for networking possibilities.

PJ Bergin
Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist

Member,

Boundless Energy

"a concept in mathematics and philosophy that refers to a quantity without bound or end."

In my own work I find that every time I approach a new piece, there is something new to behold. Part of that comes from the way I work, from the ground up. Starting with combed white wool roving, I create all the colors in my palette by hand-dyeing the wool myself. My "recipes" for a certain color are somewhat repeatable, but variations in hue and shade are inevitable. And, once the layering of wet colored wool begins, it's not always possible to determine exactly where it will end up.

The whole process of layout and construction of my Network Tapestry™ is one of constant experimentation. Working largely in an abstract medium, there is no need to reproduce an image - rather my goal is to conjure up a feeling, then let the viewer take it from there. In that way, each piece is fresh and the interpretation varies with the time of day, the light cast on it and the mood of the viewer.

I like the symbolism of "infinity" - without a beginning or an end. It implies an energy that keeps on flowing and with it, endless variety. For me, that's what felt and fiber are all about - PJ